Ephraim Kirby "E.K." Brown

Ephraim Kirby “E.K.” Brown, 71, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away Monday, June 19, 2023 at home surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Onslow County on May 22, 1952 to the late Lyman Brown and Myrtie Louise Richardson Brown. He is also preceded in death by two siblings, Eloise Brown Parker and Frank Brown.

E.K. formerly lived in Wilmington before moving to Marion. He was a 1970 graduate of Burgaw High School, and he enjoyed keeping up with his classmates over the years. He retired from the United States Air Force where he received countless accommodation awards. During his military service, he spent eleven years in Germany, eighteen months in Okinawa, Japan, and he served the rest of his career stateside. Following this, he worked ten years with the United States Postal Service. He will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Linda Kaye Ward Brown; son, Alex Brown; stepdaughter, Angela Brown Peterson; four grandchildren, Rebecca, Sophia, Olivia, and Ella; brother, Samuel Martin Brown; and numerous cousins who were all close to him.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Beam Funeral Service with Pastors Billy Cooper and Bobby Wilson officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. A graveside service with full military honors will be held at 2:00 p.m. that afternoon at Catawba Memorial Park in Hickory.

Memorial donations may be made to CarePartners Hospice McDowell.